Post-deportation audio statement: This is my story

I am asylum seeker. I was deported without a decision on my asylum application. I AM ONE OF THE DEPORTEES THAT WAS DEPORTED TO NIGERIA ON 24TH OF JANUARY, 2017.

I am asylum seeker. I claimed asylum in June 9th, 2016. I was housed in [inaudible] in NASS accommodation in October 2016, Home Office house for [inaudible]. I was on benefits, asylum support, £35 weekly. I receive a letter from Home Office that they would carefully consider me as soon as possible, in November 2016. So I should be reporting every 2 weeks in Sheffield Immigration Centre.

I went for reporting every 2 weeks without missing any weeks. On 26th of January 2017 I went for reporting in Sheffield Immigration Reporting Centre. I was detained by Immigration and held at Manchester airport for 2 nights. After 2 nights at Manchester airport I was taken to Harmondsworth detention centre around 11pm.

The next day, on Sunday, when the solicitor and support group were unreachable, I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR THE CHARTER FLIGHT, SCHEDULED TO LEAVE 2 DAYS LATER, WITHOUT DECISION ON MY ASYLUM APPLICATION. I have only one day to pursue any legal avenue to stop the removal and managed to lodge a judicial review, but they did not allow me to receive the confirmation. I was lock up, not allowed to go out. I wrote a letter to Immigration, I dropped the letter in the complaint box. I explained my situation to them, but no reply.

THE WORST PART IS THE CHARTER FLIGHT. THEY TIE BELT ON MY BODY, THERE WERE 2 PEOPLE TO HOLD ME AND DRAG ME INSIDE THE PLANE. I COULD NOT BREATHE VERY WELL. I’M STILL FEELING THE PAIN NOW. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM THAT I’M NOT FEELING WELL, THEY SHOULD REMOVE THE BELT, BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR WHAT I’M SAYING, THEY SAID THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB.

During the flight I managed to speak to Immigration inside the flight. I explained my situation to Immigration that I have been living in UK since 2007, 10 years now, I claimed asylum June 9, 2016, Home Office know my story, Home Office said they are going to protect me, including my family, under human rights protection, I no decision on my claim yet, my application is under consideration.

And the Immigration [on the plane], asked me this question. One, have you ever been in prison? I replied no. Have you ever commit any crime in the country that was UK? I replied no. Why have you been detained? I said I don’t know why. Why do they want to deport you? I said I don’t know why. They told me, they have computer inside the flight to know everything about me, and he left.

When he come back, I am like an hour later, I reply, you couldn’t find anything? There’s the pieces of paper my caseworker gave to me. He wrote a different story about me and about my application as well, that I have been refused? I did not appear in the court in the country? They are all lies, because I did not receive any letter to confirm that. So Immigration took the piece of paper from me. When we land in Lagos, Immigration told Nigerian Immigration that we are not criminals.

So I’m talking to you now. I don’t have any families in Nigeria any more. All my family has been killed by insurgency terrorist group. My caseworker make a decision to deported me without a decision on my asylum application. [Sigh] He make decision on the 24 – that was January – to deported me on the 31st, without know to me. I don’t have any families in Nigeria any more.

My family has been killed by insurgency terrorist group called Boko Haram in 2005. Our church was burned down including the congregation. All my families was dead. I’m very lucky when I’m in the campus when it happen.

After I left my school campus I was on the road for 2-3 hours running to another state which is Lagos state. When I’m finally in Lagos state I was weeping, crying every day.

After 6 month on the road, sleeping on the street, I met a good Samaritan, that start for me again. I told my story, and he managed to get a visitor visa for me to UK. After arrive UK, the agent took my passport from me, he said for security purpose. He took the passport away. I did not see him again to today.

All the years I spend in UK, I got help from my uncle, my friend, my church, because I’m destitute. I was [inaudible] accommodation from each of them and support for some cash as well. My friend and my church advised me to seek legal advice about my situation. My solicitor make application and send it to Home Office about my situation. And Home Office reply after 3 month that they would protect me including my families under human rights protection.

AS I’M TALKING TO YOU NOW, I’M IN A DIFFICULT MOMENT IN MY LIFE. I AM HOMELESS, MY LIFE IS AT RISK. BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY PROMISE TO KILL ENTIRE GENERATION. I FEAR THE INSURGENCY BECAUSE THE WAY THE TOOK THE LIVES MY PARENTS AND MY FAMILY. THERE IS THREAT OVER MY LIFE, [INAUDIBLE] THE INSURGENCY BOKO HARAM STILL TERRORISE THE COUNTRY TIL NOW. [SIGH]

I’M IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION IN MY LIFE, SO I’M TALKING TO YOU, I’M ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY, NOWHERE TO STAY, NOWHERE TO SLEEP, [SIGH] I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE I CAN START MY LIFE AGAIN.